MERLIN'S APPRENTICE : 1. THE MAGE

Young Pip must embrace his magical powers to rescue his family from slavery-or help the king save the realm-a decision that will tear his world apart. Desperate to keep his family together when the slavers arrive, Pip hides his power so he can be sold with them. But when his father and brother are sold to different mages and the slavers attempt to separate his mother and sister, Pip loses control and injures a slaver with magic. The uproar catches the attention of the southern king's druid advisor, Merlin, who quickly offers a place to Pip, his sister, and his mother. On the road to King Arthur's court, bandits attack their camp, and his family is further torn apart. Pip has no choice but to work with Merlin-who may not be the evil mage Pip assumes him to be-to learn to harness his powers so he can help King Arthur stop Mordred. Only then might Pip have a chance to rid the world of slavery or to see his family together again. Twelve-year-old Pip must embrace his magical powers to rescue his family from slaveryor help the king save the realma decision that will tear his world apart. Desperate to keep his family together, Pip hides his power so he can be sold with them. But when his father and brother are sold to different mages and the slavers attempt to separate his mother and sister, Pip loses control and injures a slaver with magic. The uproar catches the attention of the southern kings druid advisor, Merlin, who quickly offers a place to Pip, his sister, and his mother. On the road to King Arthurs court, bandits attack their camp, and his family is further torn apart. Pip has no choice but to work with Merlinwho may not be the evil mage Pip assumes him to beto learn to harness his powers so he can help King Arthur stop Mordred. Only then might Pip have a chance to see his family together again. PRAISE "With vivid scene-setting, McCauley expertly draws readers into a perilous, sometimes ruthless world as experienced through the eyes of a boy consumed by guilt and grief over his family's plight and the uncertainty about who he is becoming." - Kirkus Reviews "Merlin's Apprentice: The Mage is a powerful and exciting new book for younger readers. It takes an unflinching look at the horrors of slavery but in ways that will start important conversations while entertaining middle grade and adult readers alike. Brava!" -Jonathan Maberry, NY Times bestselling author of Black Panther: Doomwar and editor of Don't Turn out the Lights